Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr David Mahlobo has lamented on the delays of the upgrading of Brits Water Treatment Works (WTW) and called for an acceleration plan to expedite the project which is not yet complete after multiple delays over extended period.
The upgrade project, located in Brits, in the Madibeng Local Municipality, North West is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to the value of more than R80 million through its Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), and it is implemented by Magalies Water Board. It forms part of the Department’s support to water services authorities, through its grants to enable them to meet their constitutional obligation of water and sanitation services provision to their residents.
Accompanied by the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Mr Gaoage Oageng Molapisi; Executive Mayor of Madibeng Municipality, Cllr Douglas Maimane, and the Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Magalies Water, Ms Malebo Matolong, the Deputy Minister met with the appointed contractors and the project managers to assess progress of the project which has been marred by delays.
The project includes the refurbishment and upgrading of Brits Water Treatment Works from a 60 megalitres per day (Ml/d) to an 80 Ml/day to enable the plant to treat raw water optimally, upgrade raw water pump station and pipeline, upgrade the distribution system up to the bulk water reservoirs.
The project was implemented in four phases, and the first and the second phases of the project were completed in 2020. This included the refurbishment of the water treatment works and the upgrading of raw water pump station, as well as both mechanical & electrical works.
Currently:
- The third phase of the project which entails civil works is 97% complete
- Electrical works is at 70%
- Mechanical works at 89%
The last phase of upgrading raw water pipeline and the distribution pipeline to the command reservoirs is still under way.
The overall completion of the upgrading project is anticipated to be at the end of August 2025 and will benefit 75 373 households in Brits and the surrounding areas.
Deputy Minister Mahlobo said the project which should have been completed 11 years ago but there is at least some progress on some of the structural works.
“To address these delays, myself, MEC Molapisi and Madibeng Executive Mayor, Mr Douglas Maimane have agreed that we should have an acceleration plans and there should also be an increasing of the workforce to ensure that the completion date of August 2025 is met. We do not want to miss the deadline again, and Magalies Water as the implementing agent should also do what it takes to ensure that the project is completed on time. This intervention or oversight visit today is part of (Water and Sanitation) Minister Majodina’s plans and efforts to unblock all of the delayed projects so that water can get to the people,” said Deputy Minister Mahlobo.
MEC Molapisi said the provincial government is also committed to see the project completed following many delays experienced in the past.
“My interest is really about the completion of the project to ensure that water is being delivered to the people. We are not entirely satisfied as the provincial government about the progress, but we hope that it will be completed on time and finally handed over to the local municipality,” said MEC Molapisi.
Enquiries:
Wisane Mavasa
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 060 561 8935
E-mail: mavasaw@dws.gov.za
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